Connecticut lawmakers dig in on gun control

HARTFORD -- State legislators face the task of sifting through more than 100 bills, reams of letters and emails, and hours of public testimony, including from the grieving parents of slain Sandy Hook Elementary School students, to come up with recommendations for policy and law changes following the Newtown shooting.

Three subcommittees of a special legislative task force on gun violence and children's safety have until Feb. 15 to present their suggestions on changes affecting guns, mental health and school security to the General Assembly's top leaders. They hope to hold a vote on emergency certified legislation at the end of the month.

The subcommittee focusing on state gun laws has received the most public attention, with an estimated 2,000 people -- many of them gun rights advocates -- turning out for a marathon Jan. 28 public hearing, for which state Capitol Police installed metal detectors.

Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said subcommittee members have asked experts, such as police and public safety officials and gun manufacturers, to return to the Legislative Office Building today for a follow-up informational session.

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Afterward, he said, members will try to reach a consensus. They've already heard from gun rights advocates concerned about losing their Second Amendment rights, and Newtown families demanding more gun control and bans on large-capacity magazines and high-powered rifles like the semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle that was used in the Dec. 14 shooting that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead.

"Obviously, we've got some polarized alternatives," said Looney, a longtime gun control advocate.

While declining to say which gun proposals he expects the subcommittee to recommend, Looney said he hopes the lawmakers ultimately will produce an ambitious package of changes, including some controversial ones, and "not just try to pick the low-hanging fruit" but "reach a little higher on the tree and get some agreement."

House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, said some of his fellow legislators are struggling with being told by constituents to pick a side: pro-gun or anti-gun.

"They see points that are being made that are all over the spectrum. And it's a spectrum, and it's not a side," Cafero said. "I think people are trying to be thoughtful."

While optimistic a bipartisan agreement can be reached, Cafero said he believes the subcommittees may need more time, and he planned to suggest waiting until mid-March to vote on a package.

Cafero would also like to add a final hearing so the public can comment on the final proposals before a vote.

"It's only proper to have yet another opportunity for the public to actually react to those specific things," he said.

House Speaker Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said lawmakers may ultimately vote quickly on a shorter list of proposals with some consensus and tackle thornier proposals later in the session, which adjourns June 5.

"My personal opinion is, I think there are enough items that are of significance, around which there can be enough consensus, and act on them," said Sharkey, adding that it's important for lawmakers to do something significant to show they are taking the issue seriously.

But even though the nation's eyes are on Connecticut right now, Sharkey said he's not feeling outside pressure to act quickly.

"I do think there is a need to not act in haste for the cameras, basically," he said. "I think it's important for us to take this responsibility seriously and thoughtfully and ensure that we are not taking action in haste that we come to regret at some point down the road due to unforeseen circumstances."